British cyclist Jonathan Tiernan-Locke was suspended for two years and fired by Team Sky on Thursday for doping.
Tiernan-Locke was banned for discrepancies in his biological passport, which tracks a rider’s blood profile over time to look for evidence of doping, the International Cycling Union (UCI) said.
Team Sky said it terminated his contract “with immediate effect” after receiving the UCI’s confirmation of the doping offense.
Photo: AFP
The UCI announced in December last year that Tiernan-Locke faced a disciplinary hearing after analysis of his biological passport showed “use of prohibited substances and/or methods.”
His suspension was listed on Thursday on the UCI Web site. His ban lasts through Dec. 31 next year.
Tiernan-Locke won the Tour of Britain in 2012 and was considered the next big star in British cycling.
Team Sky has produced the past two Tour de France champions, British riders Bradley Wiggins in 2012 and Chris Froome last year.
The suspicious readings in Tiernan-Locke’s biological passport were taken in September 2012, shortly before he signed a two-year contract with Team Sky and three months before his first race with the team.
“Jonathan’s contract has been terminated today,” Sky principal Dave Brailsford said. “Whilst there have been no doubts about his time with us, his doping violation — from readings taken before he joined this team — means there’s no place for him in Team Sky. We’ve a well-known stance on anti-doping and our action is the inevitable outcome of a violation. This is a team that trains, races and wins clean.”
Sky said Tiernan-Locke’s biological passport was not reviewed until the spring of last year, once anti-doping authorities collected enough readings.
Tiernan-Locke had not raced for the team since September last year and had not taken part in any team activities since he was formally notified of the violation on Dec. 16 last year.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Taiwan yesterday survived Bosnia and Herzegovina to win their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Taipei Tennis Center. The tight series started on Saturday with world No. 123 Jason Tseng losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Mirza Basic in the opening singles matchup. However, teammate Tony Wu kept the tie even, dominating world No. 86 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1. Yesterday, 24-year-old Ray Ho and partner 25-year-old Hsu Yu-hsiou kept up the momentum, making short work of Basic and Nerman Fatic, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tseng then suffered another defeat, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to Dzumhur in a brutal match that lasted more than two
RSS